Neighbour keeps taking in our parcels without asking

[StayceGerste]

This is a small thing but it’s starting to annoy me more than it probably should.
Our neighbour takes in our parcels whenever we’re out, which is kind, but she then opens the outer packaging “to check what it is” and comments on it when we collect it. Nothing malicious, just overly curious.
I appreciate the help, but I also don’t love someone knowing exactly what I’ve ordered every time.

We lock out front doors to prevent this. Perhaps OP could organise delivery for when she is in or choose a collection point of she can’t be in

What have you said when you see she's opened it? Try "Why have you opened my post? There's no need for you to check what it is l, please stop doing that. Feel free not to accept any more parcels for me if you feel that you are unable to take them in without checking the contents!

She's not curious, she's bloody nosey and it's totally out of order.

Order a sign which reads “Stop opening my parcels you nosey cow!”

Am having similar problem. Live in block of flats and Amazon/Royal Mail leave things on shelf in communal area on ground floor. Tenant at top of building keeps taking our parcels/mail into her flat and then texts me to tell me she has ithem. She has to pass my door to go upstairs to her flat. She does not open them, but is incredibly controlling in general eg, large communal windows are opened wide approx 5 feet in this weather. She has ring doorbell which is how she manages to get downstairs and take the items. We are not allowed to leave any items like parcel box on communal stairs and at 70+, I do not want to do Click & Collect. Very fed up. Told her yesterday while collecting my post and a parcel 5.5 hours after they were delivered (she went out for the afternoon) to Please stop taking my deliveries and that technically it was theft. She seemed shocked so I am hoping this white lie will make her stop.

She opens your parcels to see what you’ve ordered? Did I read that right?

no

Mmm maybe not. You might get asked to explain exactly what is a gimp max infant of an elderly neighbour.

😂

Which is a fantastic opportunity to say “None of your business”

other posters are 100% correct that it is illegal for her to open your post

Other posters are 100% wrong that it is illegal to open another persons post. It is, in fact, not illegal.

Opening someone else’s post with the intent to act fraudulently IS illegal. But just opening it is not.

@Hf85No, it is not illegal at all!

You could tell her it illegal to open your post and ask her not to but I'm feeling a bit mischievous today so the next time she does it I'd ask her where the rest of the items are. I'd tell her my delivery notification said my whole order was being delivered but you can see there are some items missing. It might make her think twice about opening your parcels if she realises she could easily be accused of theft.

Yes it is. A PP has mentioned the correct legislation. You need to have a good reason to open someone's mail, wanting to see what they've ordered is not a good reason.

fosters-solicitors.co.uk/insight/is-it-legal-to-open-someone-elses-mail

Sorry, what is unreasonable about reporting people who take things without permission to the police for stealing?

Black belt barrister on YouTube always videos himself unwrapping his parcels - he says then if something is broken or missing you have proof that it arrived like that. You could tell your neighbour you'll be doing that in future and would she not take the wrapping off. That why she shouldn't be offended and will still take your parcels in for you.

How did you not say why? When she said she'd opened it.

Wasting police time

Have you told them to stop doing this?

You can specify delivery not to be given to neighbour also. X

Why does she need to check what it is?
Yell her to refuse the parcel in future as you don’t want them opened.

that's hardly secure though, the amazon one even though its £100 is a lot more sturdy and lockable.

😂or give her a heart attack

"Our neighbour takes in our parcels whenever we’re out"

I assumed that this meant "she sees parcels left on our step and takes them in for "safe keeping"." On reflection maybe it does not mean that.

On reflection it seems to mean "our neighbour signs for and stores parcels for us when the delivery driver knocks on her door".

On reflection and having googled "Section 84 of the UK's
Postal Services Act 2000, titled "Interfering with the mail: general," makes it a criminal offence for anyone, without reasonable excuse, to intentionally delay or open a postal packet during transmission, or to intentionally open a mail-bag, carrying penalties like fines and imprisonment. It also targets individuals who open incorrectly delivered mail, intending to harm the recipient, and specifies exceptions to these rules, ensuring mail privacy and security for all users, not just postal operators." my advice has changed.

My advice would be to write to your neighbour and say "If you ever sign for an item of mine and I do not get it I will be reporting you to the police for theft. If you ever sign for an item of mine and you open it I will regard it as a breach of S84 of the PSA 2000. You have no reason to open my mail, ever, and if you think "I want to check it's not a bomb in my house" is an excuse it is not - if you're not happy to sign for it and leave it alone then do not sign for it".

Because she isnt stealing.

Stealing is the removal of someone else property with the intention to permanently deprive them of it. She isnt doing that, she is being nosey but isnt hanging on to anything that isnt hers. At best the neighbour would be told to stop opening the parcels and the OP would have pissed off police with better things to do telling her she should have sorted it out herself. Oh and neighbourly relations would be in the toilet.

So all in all a total waste of everyones time.